The Sovereignty of Good

Iris Murdoch was one of the great philosophers and novelists of the twentieth century and The Sovereignty of Good is her most important and enduring philosophical work. She argues that philosophy has focused, mistakenly, on what it is right to do rather than good to be and that only by restoring the notion of ‘vision’ to moral thinking can this

Overview

Iris Murdoch was one of the great philosophers and novelists of the twentieth century and The Sovereignty of Good is her most important and enduring philosophical work. She argues that philosophy has focused, mistakenly, on what it is right to do rather than good to be and that only by restoring the notion of ‘vision’ to moral thinking can this distortion be corrected. This brilliant work shows why Iris Murdoch remains essential reading: a vivid and uncompromising style, a commitment to forceful argument, and a courage to go against the grain.

With a foreword by Mary Midgley.

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Editorial Reviews

Mary Midgley

Iris ... never minded being unfashionable. That is what makes The Sovereignty of Goodso good - what makes it, still, one of the very few modern books of philosophy which people outside academic philosophy find really helpful.

Sunday Telegraph

The theme is the inadequacy of the account of human nature and value provided by contemporary, academic analytic philosophy. Murdoch's attack is the fruit of a thorough professional involvement with the school of thought to which she is opposed.

Guardian

All three essays which make up this book are superb . . . She has carefully pondered all that logical analysis, existentialism, Marxism, Freudianism can say, has learned from them, and yet is able to present an old-fashioned view with complete modernity.

From the Publisher

'One of the very few modern books of philosophy which people outside academic philosophy find really useful.' - Mary Midgely

' ... Murdoch's attack is the fruit of a thorough professional involvement with the school of thought to which she is opposed.' - Anthony Quinton, Sunday Telegraph

'All three essays which make up this book, The Idea of Perfection, On 'God' and'Good', and The Sovereignty of Good over Other Concepts, are superb.' - The Guardian